We're at the Sacramento airport, waiting to fly out to DC to visit our daughter for a week. Yesterday was a frenzy of packing and-- mainly-- trying to finish something up for work before I left. I spent all day reworking that code up through midnight, and it felt SoClose, but no. Got it into a state where others can take it over, though.

The early part of the week was a howl-fest at home, as our son was at UCLA orientation and the cat didn't know what to do with herself. Poor thing-- her boy came home for half a day, but now the whole family is leaving!

Idol news: we're down to the Top 8 of the season, so the end is closing in! My entry is here, with a link to the poll and all other stories. Not crack this week, because I couldn't make the prompt work toward that, but a good story of a different genre. :)

Last weekend was busy. We were gone all day Saturday, traveling for a birthday celebration for my husband's oldest sister. It was bittersweet-- something we wanted to go to, and absolutely needed to, but that sister has early-onset Alzheimer's. She enjoyed having the celebration and seeing everyone, and felt very loved, but there are so many difficulties and frustrations for her that it was also a struggle. She can still walk with assistance, but is unsteady (her balance is increasingly compromised). She struggles with finding words, and people just wait patiently, but for someone who used to be so sharp and conversational, that is hard for her. Processing multiple conversations at once is also hard (so, crowded gatherings stress her), and eating is very difficult. It's just so unfair, and everyone fears the eventual stage where she starts forgetting who we are. So, it was an absolutely must-attend event and was wonderful in many senses, but there was a lot of sorrow toward the future.

With the busy summer (meaning, my office's virtual moratorium on most vacation time), I still haven't gone up to see my family, and need to do that. It may not be until this Fall, after our son goes to college, but I wish I could squeeze it in sooner. I also mourn the missing of blackberry season up in Oregon yet again. I haven't been there for August blackberries in more than 15 years. *sigh*

Well, better turn this thing off soon. I'll check back later this weekend, and find out what you've all been up to!